Sprinkler



Dec. 1l, 1934. G. BUELNA ET Al.

SPRINKLER Filed Oct. 19,' 1931 A TTORNEY Patented Dec. 11, 1934SPRINKLER Guadalupe Buelna and Henry Eugene Jeremie Vacher, SantaBarbara, Calif.

Application October 19, 19.31, Serial No. 569,710

7 Claims. (Cl. 299-67) This invention relates to sprinklers, andparticularly to a sprinklerzof the rotary type of the character adaptedtosequentially jet or project a stream of liquid, such as water, in a,selected path of movement. v

An object of the invention is to provide a sprinkler having a selectedmovement, whereby a given area may be continuously swept with a streamof liquid. In accomplishing the aforesaid object, we may, in oneembodiment of Your invention, provide two diametrically opposed noZ-zles, and so arrange the mechanism ofthe sprinkler that liquid isdirected from` one of said nozzles during a given arc ofrotation,;whereupon further flow of liquid through said nozzle isstopped and the flow of liquid directed through the other nozzle. yparticularly useful for the wetting of selected areas of ground, such ason golf courses, and the like.

Another object is the provision `of a sprinkler so arranged that theliability to damage is effectively obviated through provision of variousand sundry safety devices incorporated within the sprinkler. l

Another object is the provision of a sprinkler which is simple ofconstruction, efficientl in operation, fool-proof, oi few parts, andgenerally superior tosprinklers adapted to accomplish a like function. vv

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the.novel and useful provision, formation, construction, association, andrelative arrangement of parts, members and features, all as shown in aycertain embodiment in the` accompanying drawing,y described generally,and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing: Y

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the improved sprinkler shown asan entirety,

Figure 2 is a sectional view on theline 2.,-z2of` Figure l,

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line -3- 3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary` detail,

partly in section, of certain locking mechanism used in practicing Vtheinvention, and,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view of anele-k Such a type of sprinkleris be noted that the two-part casing has a chamber 5, the chamber beingformed by the part 2 of the said casing having a sidewall 6, a base 7,`and an annular flange v8 extending outwardly from the baseand centrallythereof. The jpartB of the casing has a side wall 9 and a top wall 10. YThus, when the two'side walls 2 and 9 are threaded together, as shown at4, the chamber 5 is formed. The top wall. 10 has depending therefrom oneor more valve .guides 11. In thepri-isent instance, twovvalve guides areprovided, as-,shown at 12 and 13. The'topwall isenlarged, as shown inthe drawing, and provided'with one or more bores 14, each borecommunicating with a valveguide 11.-A In the present instance, therewould be two of said bores. `The Atopr ,wallvis likewise bored, as shownat v15 and 16, said bores communicating withthe bores 14, and-,nozzlemembers 17 are adapted f for screw-threaded engagement with the wallsbounding said bores y15 and 1,6. As shown, these saidnozzlesextendoutwardly from the top` wall at an angle to the longitudinal axis of thesprinkler. This so-called'top `wall ,has a chamber -portion 18formedby'providing an annular wall 19 at what maybe termed a sprinklerlhead. This wall is-internally screw-,threaded at 20 and adaptedto haveYscrew-threaded thereto a cap 21. As'shownin Figure 2, said top wall isprovided with a pairof oppositely disposed segmental ports 22r and 23and theser said ports communicate between thechambers 5 and 18.

Adapted for movement-withinv the valve guides l1, and likewise withinthe bores 14 communieatingv with said guides, are poppet valves 24. Inthe present instance, two poppetvalves are provided. Both poppet valvesinclude a stem 25 having a fairly close t engagement with the bore ofthe guides 11, with said sternenlarged at 26, finally terminating in aconical-shaped valve head 27. This valve head may be nondetachable fromthestem although in thepresent instance, it is held to the stem throughthe medium of a screw or-the like 28. The bore 14 has a larger diameter`than the enlarged portion 26 of the stem, and said bore is likewise ofconsiderably greater diameter than the diameter ofthe portion 25 of thestern.v One end portion of this; enlargement is annularly beveled, asshown at' 29, and the wall bounding the bore 14 and the bore of the`guide 1l is correspondingly beveled, as shown at 30, to receive thebeveled portion 29, although in the present'instance the two parts arenot adapted to seat (see the closedvalve of Figure 1). However, the topwall where it communicates withthe chamber 18 is provided with rreoSTATES PATENToFFlcE a beveled seat at 31 for receiving the 4valve head27.

Within the chamber is what may be termed a jetting head 32, the sameincluding a member having a base 33, an annular side wall 34, and acentral annular iiange 35 depending from the base. This annular ange isadapted to t within the confines of the ange 8 and likewise extendbeyond the end of the ange 8. It will be seen from the drawing that thesaid jetting head is fairly closelyr conned within` the part 2 of thecasing 1. Between the bases 7 and 33 is a bearing washer 36, it beingthe intention that the casing should revolve relative to the jettinghead. The jetting head has spanning the annular side wall 34, a plate37. 'I'his said plate is provided with one or more passages 38. Thesesaid jets are formed by upsetting the metal in the manner shown at 39,so as to have a depending portion extending relative to a surface of theplate, with a port 40 formed between the depending portion and theplate. The ports in each instance are so arranged that the samecommunicate with the'space included between the base 33 and the saidplate, said ports in turn communicating with the opposite surface of theplate. Centrally mounted upon said plate and on what may be termed theexterior surface of the jetting head,`is a cam 41. This cam is in theform of a segmental helix.- As shown, the said cam is held to the plate,by any suitable means, such as by the screw shown at 42. The cam is sopositioned relative to the valve stems, of which there are two in thepresent instance, that one stem engages the cam at the lowest portionthereof at the timey that the opposite stem is entirely raised. As shownin Figure 3, there is a sudden drop in the cam so that a valve will dropsuddenly to close to its seat when the other valve commences to open.

As stated, the casing is adapted torotate relative to the jetting head,and it is essential that the valve stems be protected against damageduring casing rotation. Hence, to prevent the abrupt surface of the camfrom breaking the stems if the casing was moved in a direction oppositeto its normal directionof rotation, we have provided a spring catch.This spring catch includes a stem 43 having a head portion 44 and aroundwhich stem and bearing against the head is a coil spring 45. The coilspring, stem and head are adapted to be in part confined within a bore46 in the cam 41, see Figure'4. We also upset the metal of the plate 37in the path of said head 44 by striking a portion of it downwardly, asshown at 47, so as'to have an abrupt Contact surface 48 and an inclinedportion 49, against which surface 48 the head of the stemy contacts whenthe casing is moved in its direction of normal rotation.

.Adapted to be loosely carried upon the top of the plate 37 is anannular ring 50. This annular ring is adapted to move against the innersurface of the side wall 9 in a manner to be set forth in the statemento f operation. It is also to be noted that the inner surface of the wall9 is provided with a pair or"r diametrically disposed segmentalindentations 51 and 52.

The annular flange 35 is screw-threaded at 53 and a coupling 54 issecured to said screwthreads, and which coupling in turn directlyconnects with a pipe 55 leading to a source of liquid supply.

The operation, kuses and advantages of the invention just described areas follows:

Liquid under pressure is adapted to be delivered through the pipe 55within the connes of the annular flange 35 and against the plate 37.This liquid in turn will pass through the ports 40 and be receivedwithin the connes of the annulus 50. The passages 38 are so formed as todirect the iuid against the inner wall of the annulus 50 and in sodoing, the annulus is impelled to rotate. 'The annulus has its outerwall surface engaging the inner surface of the wall 9 and this annuluswill, therefore, rotate against this surface and in so doing, rotate thecasing. It is apparent that the bearing surface for the casing occursbetween the annular flange 35 and the flange 8. As the casing rotates,the valves are sequentially raised and lowered. Liquid being directedwithin the chamber 5 of the casing in turn ilows through the po-rts 22and 23, and is received in the space included between the valve headsand the cap 21. From here, the liquid flows past the valve head and intothe bore 26, thence into the nozzle 17. Within each nozzle is a deector56. In the present instance, the deflector is a flat plate diametricallyspanning the nozzle for the purpose of directing the liquid straightoutwardly from the nozzle without giving the liquid a spiral movement.Intermittent ro-tation will occur between the casing l and the annulus50 when the annulus 50 is received within one of the indented portions5l or 52 of the wall 9. The casing will be rotated and when the annulusescapes from an indentation, no appreciable rotation of the casing willoccur.

In actual use, the said sprinkler may be placed in a given locationrelative to an area to receive liquid, and it is apparent that rst onenozzle will direct a stream of liquid over a given arc, whereupon flowof liquid through said nozzle will cease, immediately followed by liquidbeing directed through the other nozzle to cover the same arc ofmovement. Thus, it is possible to practically continuously direct astream of liquid over the same area. By varying the number of nozzles aswell as the arrangement of the cam, it is possible to direct liquid overany arc desired.

The arrangement of the stop between the cam and the plate 37 is suchthat when the casing is revolved in a proper direction, the head 44 ofthe stem 43 engages the stop portion 48 of the plate so that the cam isheld against rotation during movement of the casing. It is, of course,understood that the top portion of the casing is revolved, which topportion has the valves mounted therein. When reverse direction of thecasing is attempted, the cam is released, the head 44 sliding upon thegradually curved portion 49, with the result that a stem of a poppetvalve engaging the abrupt end wall of the cam, simply rotates the camrelative to the plate and the screw 42.

The annulus 50 is of a sucient diameter to at all times form anenclosure for that portion of the plate having the jets, and saidannulus is always eccentric to the casing during operation of thesprinkler.

The poppet valves may be of the gravity ac-V tuated type due to the factthat liquid under pressure is directed against the heads thereof. Thevalves are, therefore, raised through the simple expedient of the cam topermit liquid to flow past the heads and stems into the nozzles.

It is obvious that various changes and modioations and variations may bemade in practicingV the invention in departure from the particularshowing of the drawing without departing from the true spirit of theinvention.

We claim:

1. n a sprinkler of the character disclosed comprising a water conveyingand jetting device, a casing, means within said casing and acted upon bythe water jetting device to rotate said casing, a sprinkler nozzlecarried by the casing, a cam, and a poppet valve operated by said cam toalternately open and close communication between the casing and saidnozzle during a given rotation of said casing.

2. A sprinkler of the character disclosed cornprising a casing formedwith opposed outlets, sprinkler nozzles fitted in said outlets, a liquidjetting device within said casing and arranged to be in communicationwith a source of liquid supply, means within the casing adapted to beacted upon by liquid jetted through said liquid jetting device to rotatesaid casing relative thereto, a cam, and poppet valves engaging the camfor alternately opening and closing the outlets through said casingduring rotation thereof.

3. A sprinkler comprising a casing, a pair of` poppet valves to controlpassage of liquid through the casing and outwardly thereof, said casingbeing constructed to be rotated, means arranged to alternately open andclose a poppet valve during rotation of said casing in one direction,and means whereby the rst named means is nonrotatable in the directionof normal rotation'oi said casing.

4. A sprinkler comprising a casing, a jetting head within said casing,said casing being adapted to revolve relative to the said jetting head,said jetting head including a plate formed with passages, means wherebya liquid may be passed within said jetting head and outwardly throughsaid passages into the interior of the casing to produce rotation ofsaid casing, a nozzle secured to the casing, a poppet valve mounted in avalve Areceiving port in communication with said nozzle .and theinterior of the casing, and means whereby said poppet valve is openedand closed during rotation of the said casing to control passage ofliquid through the casing and outwardly of the nozzle during rotation ofthe casing a selected degree of revolution.

5. A sprinkler comprising a rotatable casing having two separatedchamber portions and a port therebetween, a gravity actuated poppetvalve formed to extend between said chamber portions in the casing, cammeans for positioning the poppet valve during rotation of the casing, anozzle secured to the said casing, said casing being adapted to receivea liquid in one chamber t be transmitted through said port to the otherchamber, and said poppet valve when in one position permitting saidliquid to pass through said last chamber into said nozzle and in asecond position to close the passage between said last chamber and saidnozzle.

6. A sprinkler comprising a casing having two separated chamber portionsand a port therebetween, a poppet valve formed to extend between saidchamber portions in the casing, cam means for positioning the poppetvalve during rotation of the casing, a nozzle secured to the saidcasing, Said casing being adapted to receive a liquid in one chamber tobe transmitted through said port to the other chamber, and said poppetvalve when in one position permitting said liquid to pass through saidlast chamber into said nozzle and in a second position to close thepassage between said la-st chamber and said nozzle, in combination withmeans in one of said chambers adapted to produce rotation of said casingwhen liquid is received therein.

'7. A sprinkler comprising a casing having two` separated chamberportions and a port therebetween, a poppet valve formed to extendbetween said chamber portions in the casing, a nozzle secured to thesaid casing, said casing being arranged to receive a liquid in onechamber to be transmitted through said port to the other chamber, saidpoppet valve when in one position permitting said liquid to pass throughsaid last chamber into said nozzle and in a second position to closecommunication between said last chamber and said nozzle, in combinationwith means in one of said chambers adapted to produce rotation of saidcasing when liquid is received therein, and cam means to open and closesaid poppet valve during rotation of said casing.

GUADALUPE BUELNA. HENRY EUGENE JEREMIE VACHER.

